Rhun ap Iorwerth | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Leader of Plaid Cymru | |
| Assumed office 16 June 2023 | |
| President | The Lord Wigley |
| Deputy | Siân Gwenllian Delyth Jewell |
| Preceded by | Adam Price[a] |
| Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru | |
| In office 23 October 2018 – 16 June 2023 Serving with Siân Gwenllian | |
| Leader | Adam Price Llyr Gruffydd (acting) |
| Preceded by | Elin Jones (2016) |
| Succeeded by | Siân Gwenllian |
| Member of the Senedd forYnys Môn | |
| Assumed office 2 August 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Ieuan Wyn Jones |
| Majority | 9,166 (37.8%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rhun ap Iorwerth Jones (1972-08-27)27 August 1972 (age 53) |
| Party | Plaid Cymru |
| Children | 3[1] |
| Residence(s) | Llangristiolus, Ynys Môn |
| Alma mater | Cardiff University (BA) |
| Profession | Politician and formerly ajournalist |
| Website | www |
Rhun ap Iorwerth (Welsh pronunciation:[r̥ɨːnapˈjɔrwɛrθ];[2] born 27 August 1972) is a Welsh politician and journalist who has served as theLeader of Plaid Cymru since June 2023. He has been theMember of the Senedd (MS) forYnys Môn since2013.
Rhun ap Iorwerth was born inTonteg,Rhondda Cynon Taf, to Edward Morus and Gwyneth (née Humphreys) Jones.[3] Born Rhun ap Iorwerth Jones,[4] his name is Welsh for 'Rhun, the son ofIorwerth', a name commonly anglicised as Edward.[5] He uses ap Iorwerth as his surname.[6]
He was brought up inMeirionydd and thenAnglesey from age five.[7] Both ap Iorwerth's parents were teachers and Welsh language campaigners.[7] His father was a primary school headteacher who composed various songs and musicals for children and young people,[3][8] includingCwm-Rhyd-y-Rhosyn, a collaboration withDafydd Iwan.[9] Ap Iorwerth has an older sister, Awen Iorwerth, anorthopaedic surgeon.[10]
He attended Ysgol Rhyd-y-Main,Dolgellau, for a short period, before moving to Anglesey and attending Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan (Llandegfan Primary School), followed by secondary education atYsgol David Hughes,Menai Bridge.[7] He then studied politics and Welsh atCardiff University, and graduated in 1993.[7][11]
After living in both Cardiff and London, ap Iorwerth lives in Anglesey with his wife, Llinos Iorwerth, and has three children.[3]
In 1994, ap Iorwerth joinedBBC Cymru Wales, and worked as a journalist at BBC Westminster. Returning to Wales after the1997 devolution referendum, he became BBC Wales's Chief Political Correspondent in 2001, a post he held for five years, before moving into presenting roles. He has been presenter ofThe Politics Show Wales,Dragon's Eye, ampm, BBC Radio Wales'sGood Morning Wales, BBC Radio Cymru'sPost Cyntaf breakfast news programme, the weekly political discussion programmeDau o'r Bae, and the BBC's main evening news programme forS4CNewyddion. He has also been a regular correspondent for BBC Network news, featuring on allBBC News channels. Outside news, he has presented numerous series for S4C, including its coverage of theNational Eisteddfod,Y Rhufeiniaid ('The Romans'), and the arts seriesPethe.[12]
In January 2012, ap Iorwerth was announced as one of the patrons of the Cronfa Betsi Fund, the charitable arm of theBetsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.[13]
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On 20 June 2013, the former Plaid Cymru leaderIeuan Wyn Jones resigned from theWelsh Assembly seat of Ynys Môn in order to take a post leading the new Menai Science Park,[14][15] triggering aby-election in the constituency.[16] In June 2013, BBC Cymru Wales announced that ap Iorwerth had stepped down from his role as a news presenter to pursue a Plaid Cymru nomination for the by-election.[17]
The by-election provoked a local debate, in whichWylfa Nuclear Power Station became a key issue. The by-election was seen as key, and hadWelsh Labour won then they would have had an outright majority in the Assembly with 31 out of the 60 seats. The election on 1 August 2013 saw ap Iorwerth gain 12,601 votes, over the second-placed candidate Labour's Tal Michael (3,435 votes), on a turnout of 42.45%.[18][19]
In January 2014, he was appointed as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on Economy and Enterprise,[20][21] which also included Transport.[22] Ap Iorwerth held his seat in 2016.[23] Shortly after those elections, he was appointed as Shadow Minister for Health, as Plaid Cymru had become the second largest party.[24] In October 2016 this ceased to be a shadow cabinet role, as Plaid ceased to be the second largest party.[25] He unsuccessfully ran for theleadership of Plaid Cymru in 2018, losing toAdam Price. He was later appointed as joint deputy leader,[26] and as Plaid Spokesperson for Economy and Finance.[27][28] He also took responsibility for the Plaid Health portfolio in February 2020.[29] In May 2021, he was reshuffled to just the Health and Social Care portfolio.[30]
In July 2022, he announced his candidacy to become Plaid Cymru'sprospective parliamentary candidate inYnys Môn for the2024 United Kingdom general election.[31] In October 2023 he was replaced as candidate byLlinos Medi.[32]
In March 2023, as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on health and care, ap Iorwerth called for a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr health board failures and repeatedly called to replace Betsi with smaller health boards.[33]
In 2025, Rhun ap Iorwerth was inducted to theGorsedd at a ceremony during theNational Eisteddfod of Wales at Wrexham.[34]
In May 2023, ap Iorwerth announced he was running to become leader of Plaid Cymru.[35] He waselected unopposed.[36]
On 17 March 2024, ap Iorwerth announced an early conclusion to theco-operation agreement betweenWelsh Labour and Plaid Cymru, stating "I remain deeply concerned that the First Minister [Vaughan Gething] has failed to pay back the £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign from a company convicted of environmental offences, and believe it demonstrates a significant lack of judgment".[37]
In the2026 Senedd election, he will be a candidate in theBangor Conwy Môn constituency.[38] In January 2026, he said he preferred to form aminority government than acoalition government.[39]
| Senedd | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the Senedd forYnys Môn 2013–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care 2016–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Llyr Gruffydd Acting | Leader ofPlaid Cymru 2023–present | Incumbent |
| House of Commons |
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| House of Lords | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| Senedd | |
| Northern Ireland Assembly | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
